African football has produced some amazing clubs that have achieved incredible success and produced great players. These teams have not only dominated their local league, but have also shone brightly on the continental and international stage.
From Al Ahly’s record-breaking CAF Champions League title wins to Esperance’s domestic dominance, these top 5 clubs stand out for their achievements in African football.
Al Ahly (Egypt)
The Cairo-based club remains the most decorated football club in Africa and are also the most successful African football club of all-time, having won a total of 155 titles. Al Ahly has a record 124 domestic titles which includes a record 45 Egyptian Premier League titles, 39 Egypt Cups and 15 Egyptian Super Cups.
The club also has a record 25 continental titles, which includes a record 12 CAF Champions League title, eight CAF Super Cups and one CAF Confederations Cup. Al-Ahly also won bronze in four editions of the FIFA Club World Cup between 2006 and 2023.
The Red Devils were named as the ‘African club of the century’ by CAF in a ranking published in December 2000, for their exceptional achievements and they have never been relegated to the Egyptian second division.
Zamalek (Egypt)
Al Ahly’s fierce rivals Zamalek are second on this list and are the second-greatest African and Egyptian football club of all time. The Egyptian giants have won a total of 84 official titles which includes 66 domestic titles and 13 continental trophies.
The White Knights were the first African team to qualify for the FIFA Club World Cup, when they represented the continent in the 2001 edition and were the first Egyptian team to win a domestic title.
Zamalek have also never been relegated to the Egyptian second division in the 114-year history of the club.
Esperance Tunis (Tunisia)
Esperance are the most successful Tunisian team in history and they have backed this up by adding 70 trophies to their cabinet. The Blood and Gold have won a staggering 57 domestic titles, which includes a record 34 Tunisian League titles and a record 16 Tunisian Cup titles.
The club has also won 7 continental titles which includes 4 CAF Champions League crowns including their last triumph in 2019. Esperance represented Africa at the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup, finishing third in a group that also included English giants Chelsea and Brazilian side Flamengo.
TP Mazembe (DR Congo)
The Ravens are fourth on this list, having asserted their dominance on their domestic league, winning it a record 20 times.
TP Mazembe have a total of 39 trophies, which includes 28 domestic titles and 11 continental titles. They are the only African club to have gotten to the final of the FIFA Club World Cup, losing 3-0 in the 2010 final to European powerhouse Inter Milan.
Wydad Casablanca (Morocco)
The Casablanca based team is regarded as the greatest Moroccan football club of all time due to its domestic dominance. The Red Castle have won 47 trophies which includes 31 domestic titles and five Continental crowns. The club has won also won the most number of Moroccan league titles with 17, more than any other club.
